Rate Sensitive Blanking for Gyroscope Path Length Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for synchronizing blanking pulses in Ring Laser Gyroscopes (RLGs) are inadequate for higher inertial rates, as they fail to accurately time the blanking pulses relative to the zero rate, leading to disruptions in Path Length Control subsystems.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for rate-sensitive blanking that determines the angular rate of the gyroscope, detects zero rate occurrences of single beam signals, and generates blanker pulses based on this rate, ensuring the Path Length Control circuit suspends operation at the correct times, using inertial rate, dither amplitude, and dither frequency to predict blanker positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If hardware circuits are used to synchronize blanking pulses to dither angle peaks, then blanking is effective for low inertial rates, but the blanking pulse timing becomes inaccurate for higher inertial rates of several degrees per second or more

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblanking pulse timing accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to varying inertial rates
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of blanking pulse timing by continuously tracking the zero-rate position as it shifts with inertial rate. Instead of using a fixed synchronization method based on dither angle peaks, the system dynamically determines the actual zero-rate position and adjusts blanking pulse timing accordingly, making the system adaptive to varying inertial rates while maintaining timing accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameter of blanking pulses based on detected zero-rate position. By monitoring the shift in zero-rate position relative to dither angle peaks and adjusting the blanking pulse timing parameter accordingly, the system maintains synchronization accuracy across different inertial rate conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2574878B1Rate sensitive blanking of a path length control circuit in a gyroscope
Publication Date: 2015.07.01 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP2574878B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2574878B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2574878B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and system for rate sensitive blanking in a path length control circuit of a gyroscope is provided. The method comprises determining an angular rate of the gyroscope, detecting a zero rate of the gyroscope where one or more single beam signals occur, and determining one or more blanker positions based on the zero rate. A blanker pulse is generated at the blanker positions such that the path length control circuit suspends operation when the one or more single beam signals occur.